Knights Realm Chasing Trentham Triumph

[Wandering Eyes]

Cambridge trainer Clinton Isdale had a pleasing day at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Thursday, and he is hoping he can take that form into the weekend.

He tasted success as an owner when the John and Karen Parsons-trained Funfetti (NZ) (Embellish) romped home to a four-length victory in the Firefighters Challenge – Phil Leabourn Rating 75 (2200m), while his stable runner Elegant Explosive (NZ) (Sweynesse) was just half a length shy of winner Sonnet (NZ) (Charm Spirit) in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m).

“Funfetti has always shown ability on the poly,” Isdale said. “She stepped up and was given a lovely ride by Tina (Comignaghi). She is probably a bit better than a poly horse, but while the prizemoney was up I told John and Karen to go for it.

“Elegant Explosive went well. I took her down there for the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) and she went a bit too hard in front and didn’t see out the 2000m. I decided to back her up and try and get a bit of prizemoney for the owner to cover costs for the trip down there.

“Yesterday was her last race for me, she will carry on down there for John and Karen.”

Looking ahead to the weekend, Isdale is excited about the prospects of his consistent gelding Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale), who currently sits atop the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup (1600m) TAB market at $4.20, ahead of the next fancied runner Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) at $7.50.

The five-year-old son of Castledale has hardly put a foot wrong for Isdale, winning two and placing in eight of his 17 starts, including finishing runner-up behind Cannon Hill (NZ) (Ardrossan) over a mile at Te Rapa earlier this month.

“He is a genuine horse. He loves Trentham, he has travelled down well, he is out in the paddock eating and drinking. He will give a good account of himself,” Isdale said.

“It is a bit of a step-up from last start, but there is no reason for him not to be there.”

Knights Realm will be ridden by southern hoop Tina Comignaghi and will have just 53kg on his back, much to the delight of Isdale.

“It is the lightest load he has carried,” the Isdale said. “He is always getting run down late. He is not an overly big horse, and he seems to carry big weights in the 75s, hence why we went to open last start. With that weight he will be hard to beat.”

Further stakes tests await Knights Realm after the weekend, but which path he takes will be dictated by his weekend performance.

“If he were to win well, we will probably tip him out for a little bit and have a look at the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) down at Riccarton,” Isdale said. “If he were to pull up well, there is another race at New Plymouth, the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m). That is an exempt race for the Winter Cup.

“We will just see what he does on the weekend, it will be his biggest test to date.”

Isdale will also be represented at Trentham by Melkor (NZ) (Telperion) in the Waterforce 1600 and Meandeel (NZ) Dundeel) in the John Turkington Forestry/Waipine Logging Bulls Country Cup (2200m).

“Melkor was really good first-up (third) over 1400m at Waverley and it was my error last start, I took him down to Woodville and I dropped him back to 1100m because the rain was due to come, but it didn’t come until later on in the day,” Isdale said.

“Up to a mile, he has drawn wide (14), but he has good gate speed and Madan (Singh, jockey) likes him. He is a little horse, but he has got a big heart.”

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